Abstract

Abstract:

Introduction. Nigeria is one of 57 countries with critical shortage of health workers (HWs). Strategies to increase and equitably distribute HWs are critical to the achievement of Health Millennium/Sustainable Development Goals. We describe how three Northern Nigeria states adapted World Health Organisation (WHO)-recommended incentives to attract, recruit, and retain midwives. Methods. Secondary analysis of data from two surveys assessing midwife motivation, retention, and attrition in Northern Nigeria; and expert consultations. Results. Midwives highlighted financial and non-financial incentives as key factors in their decisions to renew their contracts. Their perspectives informed the consensus positions of health managers, policymakers and heads of institutions, and led to the adaptation of the WHO recommendations into appropriate state-specific incentive packages. Conclusions. The feedback from midwives combined with an expert consultation approach allowed stakeholders to consider and use available evidence to select appropriate incentive packages that offer the greatest potential for helping to address inadequate numbers of rural midwives.

pdf

Share